Dawgs drop close decision

Dan Khavkin, Dawgs Baseball

Moose Jaw, SASK- A battle of attrition took place in game-two of the three-game set between the
visiting Okotoks Dawgs and hosts Moose Jaw Miller Express Wednesday night, with the Millers picking
up a 3-2 win despite a late push from the Dawgs in the ninth inning.
Both teams only put up 10 hits total on the night, but it was the Millers (6-6) who came out with the win
over the Dawgs (8-3).
Lewis-and-Clarke State pitcher Justin Hammergren suited up in Okotoks red colours for the first time,
throwing five innings, surrendering four hits and two runs while striking out eight batters in his Dawgs
debut.
Miller Express counter-part Blake Gallagher kept up with Hammergren, throwing six innings and giving
up a mere three hits; including a home run while striking out seven en route to the win.
Meadow Lake, Sask., native Brett Esau took the ball deep and over dead centre-field for his second
home run of the season in the first inning, continuing the trend of early Okotoks offence as the Dawgs
now have 16 total first-inning runs.
Outside of Esau’s dinger, the Dawgs only mustered five hits in the rest of the game.
Moose Jaw drew the game even and then found their first lead of the series in the bottom of the fifth
inning on Hammergren’s only mistake of his outing.
A one-out RBI single from Zach Campbell with two-men on, put runners on the corner for the ensuing
sac-fly the following at bat from Michael Borst that gave the Miller Express their first lead of the game.
An error from the Dawgs late in the bottom of the eight brought in the third Moose Jaw run of the
game, setting up a dramatic ninth inning for the Dawgs.
Okotoks brought a run in on a second-out ground ball that was overthrown, setting up the stage for
Davis Todosichuk with a runner on third base.
A base-hit was slapped to left field but a close call at home-plate from an outfield assist, gunned out
the runner to end the game.
Game-three of the three-game set concludes Thursday, June 13 th with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.